accusations against natural's safety system. the top man tries to reassure commuters. >> stock in beijing. the latest details on a group of students under a swine flu quarantine. >> and more troubles for marion barry. we'll tell you about another possible investigation. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- good wednesday morning. i'm doug mcelway. >> and i'm alison starling. we're so glad you are joining us. your traffic and weather together every 10 minutes. let's start with brian van de graaff. welcome back. it has been a while. >> we're all back here for awhile. there are some showers down to

the south, west of fredericksburg along route 3 heading towards culpeper. you may encounter some shower activity. there are not widespread. there could be some heavy downpours. 67 in waldorf. 64 in camp springs. we will be in the mid to upper 80's today. partly cloudy like guest today. >> traffic is moving ok in virginia. no problems to report on 95 and 66. i wanted to go live to the picture on traffic in college park. there was a crash reported on the right side. no sign of this crash. it was supposed to be on the service road. we will take you over to springfield.

headlights are northbound out of newington to get up to the beltway. now to top stories. >> thank you. as if red line riders did not have enough headaches already, "the washington post" is out with some stories about safety. >> there is some malfunctioning. matt brock is live with more. >> they cannot expect delays because the ntsb continues to investigate the accident here on the red line and continues to look into those sensors, the circuit in this control system. here is the article that is causing quite a fuss. john kao when on the defense on tuesday against a -- john katcae

went on the defense on tuesday. >> the fact is this system is safe. >> the real chief says problems have been found with numerous rail circuits in four of five lines. it is expected to contribute to the accident near fort totten. ito said the entire system is being tested twice -- he said the entire system is being tested twice a day. >> we will go beyond the normal maintenance. people sometimes mistake that for a problem. >> what are commuters saying? >> everybody is a budget up in the middle. people are afraid. -- everybody is launchibunchingn the middle.

>> we spoke to one employee this morning. she said we all kind of want to know what is going on. it seems this is a widespread problem. however, "the washington post" is sticking by their story. matt brock, abc 7. >> this article is not the only problem natcher is facing. abc 7 received a photo of one of the 1000 series cars at the end of a train. we were told those older cars had been placed in the center of the trains were there were considered safest. metro says that car has now been moved to the middle of a train. ppaor for f delayon the fheba ltimore-washington paraykw beginning tonight. l w ill tpu pu int barriers.

expect temporary lane closures. it will get under way around 9:00 tonight. ddot will hold a public meeting tonight. the program's goal is to protect neighborhood parking, to spur a regular turnover of metered space, and to reduce congestion. the meeting begins tonight at 7:00 in northwest. nearly 6000 prince george's county worker will have two have tell weeks off without pay. the vote was 8-1. police officers and firefighters are among those facing mandatory leave. >> we could not to the offer low and lay off 800 people.

>> the possibilities are there for something to go wrong when you do not have the correct number of people to handle emergencies. >> workers will need to use in minimum of three on paid leave days. a group of local high school students are being quarantined in china. seven of the 22 students have tested positive for the virus. one of the students had flu like symptoms. the students are part of a language program organized through the university of maryland. >> i just spoke with someone and they said they were treated very well. >> you cannot talk to the nurses at the hospital for the doctors. >> the students are now recovering.

the chinese government has offered to pay to extend their stay to make up those days they missed while under quarantine. more problems for marion barry. they want an extended -- an expanded probe of him. a group is accused of misusing funds. members say the money never reached some of the people who were supposed to receive it. seven minutes after the hour. b. expense allegations against sarah palin. we will tell all about it. >> client adam caskey live in arlington. is little muggy outside. we'll talk forecast coming up.

>> and lisa baden will be back with another look at your morning commute. you're watching "good rning washington." ."

we have a glimpse of a rare sight in the sky. these are pictures from china during the longest total solar

eclipse of the 21st century. it lasted just under seven minutes at its maximum. . unbelievable. thousands of people turned out to watch this rare event. >> spectacular. >> it really is. >> imagine the days before astronomers. they must have thought the world was coming to an end. your traffic and weather together every 10 minutes. we will check in with adam caskey who is in northern virginia. >> it runs me of a cheesy joke. how does the aston not cut his hair? -- how does the astronaut cut his hair? he eclipsed it. >> i can tell you talk to children a lot. >> i do have another one for

next hour. you just have to ask. dew point of 66. muggy it is the bid out here. the main shield of rain will ocean. a few isolated s awersnd thunderstorms in the forecast day. there of fredericksburg this morning. it is slowly drifting off to the north. a few more isolated showers and storms. otherwise, a decent amount of sunshine. high temperatures in the mid 80's. you will feel more mugginess, especially on friday and saturday. >> our commute seems to be running smoothly except for traffic out of pennsylvania in to maryland on 15. that is near mount st. mary's

college. you'll have to follow a detour, i am told. here are some travel times. everything is good, 270, the dulles greenway, the dulles toll road. normal travel times between richmond and baltimore. this is in germantown. no delays. alison and doug. >> thank you. 69 degrees outside. ipod users, the rumor mill is buzzing about the future of apple's music player. could it double as a phone? >> we will check what is the one on on the

>> you are watching abc 7's "good morning washington," with doug mckelway, alison starling,

meteorologist brian van de graaff, weather, and lisa baden, traffic. this is "good morning washington," on your side. welcome back. in our top stories, president obama has scored a key victory in his attempt to rein in defense spending. they will end production of the f-22 fighter jets. the white house and the pentagon say the fighter jets are no longer need and that they are a waste of money. the president had threatened to veto the defense spending gun if it included funds for more of the f-22 's. there is an investigation into cerro palin. she may have except in private donations to pay off some legal

debts through a foundation set up by supporters. she says she owes more than $500,000 in legal fees. and the white house goes a little bit country. a handful of country stars and detained at the capitol hill crowd yesterday. they also held a workshop for students. this is the second in an installment to encourage the arts. a classical workshop is scheduled for the fall. your traffic and weather together every 10 minutes. we will check in with lisa baden for the latest on what is happening on the roads. >> thank you for joining us this morning. we're in pretty big shape on 15, 270, the dulles greenway, the dulles toll road. nothing to report on the beltway. good through southeast

washington. a live picture in fairfax county moving nicely on 95, headlights are northbound out of newington. >> we have one shower to tell you about. it is west of fredericksburg. it is partly in to stafford county. this will continue to drift to the north. it is along 17. we will show you the bigger picture. we're kind of between two systems. one is off to the midwest. it is bringing rain into the tennessee and ohio valleys. isolated will be the nature of our storms today. let's get to the temperatures outside. 65 down and marshall. it touched warmer down in southern maryland. 66 in leesburg. the overall pattern is this

influx of moisture from the south. it will be muggy for the next couple of days. the energy it will work its way across the area. we will see this repetitive pattern. today it will be like yesterday, partly cloudy, made 80's. tomorrow, a few showers and storms are possible again. i do think saturday will be near 90, hot and sticky. more storms into the back half of the weekend. >> thank you. microsoft could be taking its possible xbox mobile. the ipod touch could be closer to an iphone. >> those stories and the soda machine of the future. and electronic book reader that can match functions with kindled. a company is announcing a date

with at&t to give its devise a wireless connection. it will have access to books and newspapers anywhere there is a cellular signal or a wifi connection. the company has not said how much it will cost. the new version of microsoft windows will be more family friendly. one copy of the new software can be installed on three new computers. windows seven will be released in late october. the playstation portable and there soon may be a portable version of the xbox. the company is focusing on the the living room experience for now. it is just a matter of time before a mobile version of the gaming console becomes available. the ipod touch could soon work ala likehe iphone.

the next generation will have a built-in camera and microphone. the ipod can become a phone. the soda fountain of the future. coca-cola is testing a new machine that offers more than 100 different drinks at the attached -- at the touch of a touch screen. the machines are currently being tested in georgia, california, and you talk. the next time you want a raspberry coke, you will know where to go. for more information, log onto the tech page at abcnews.com. those are your tech bytes. i'm jeremy hubbard. >> 5:21 is your time, 61 degrees. >> the nationals cannot lose if they do not let the of the team score. tim brant will have highlights.

good morning. jim riggleman, congratulations to you. the nationals got the new manager his first win. the nationals shut out new york last night. top of the third. mets with two on, two out. look at the grass at the fence. shut out still intact. -- look at the grab at the

fence. adam dunn scored easily from third. john lannon was untouchable. he scattered seven hits. the nationals went forgers zero. jim riggleman gets his first win as manager of the national spirit it was a fun night at the ballpark. there is a look at sports. >> thank you. 5:25 is your time. time for business headlines from chicago. good morning. >> good morning. ben bernanke will be in the congressional hot seat again today trying to fend off criticism for rescuing failing financial institutions. he is getting top marks from investors. a bloomberg poll shows almost

75% server it have a favorable view of bernanke and say he deserves another four-year term after his current one expires in january. keep an eye on the housing market. there'll be a report on home prices later this morning. prices fell slightly after big drops in january,ary,nd march.nd march. it looks like today might be the day investors snuff out this powerful ral we have been experiencin after a seven-day rally for the dow, stock index futures are pointing to it blow were open. and that is your business news. doug and alison, back to you. >> thank you. 5:26. the news continues. >> in our next half hour, where has the governor of virginia been? and who has been paying for it?

>> the race is on to get the health care reform bill passed. i will tell you what president obama is doing tonight to give it a big push. >> it is a repeat of yesterday. what's up, smart? being smart. yep. just booked my 10th night on hotels.com, so i get a night free. you. me. getaway. really? where? anywhere you want. a bed and breakfast? bed and breakfast. check. a place by the beach? a place by awesome. oh, you are smart. accumulate 10 nights and get a night free. welcome rewards from hotels.com. smart. so smart.

>> live and in hd, this is "good morning washington," on your side. welcome back to "good morning washington." it is wednesday, july 22. thank you for joining us. i'm alison starling. >> and i'm doug mckelway. we begin with your traffic and weather together every 10

minutes. we're hoping for some rain outside. >> when we needed, it does not come. hewwe don't wanthe it, it is ever e one storm over calvert county yesterday. itaterh te and didn'ht go anywhere. heres a storm west of the 95 corridor. we will keep an eye on that. temperature range, upper 60's to low 70's. we will be in the mid to upper mid 80's when all is said and done. i think today it will be a lot like yesterday. tomorrow, a better chance of rain. saturday could be dry, albeit hot and sticky. let's check in on traffic. >> we have a lighter volume than we are used to. no problems in and out of baltimore.

we have long term construction beginning tonight at 7:30 tonight. but everything is good this morning on the baltimore- washington parkway. there is a crash in virginia on 66. only one lane is getting by. that is out of tyson's out to the toll road. we will go to the camera and there we are at 210. everything seems to be moving smoothly to the bridge. alison and doug. >> thank you. the president goes prime time tonight and talks about his health care reform plan. >> republicans in congress are saying it is now time to go back to square one. pamela brown has more. >> president obama will be making his case to the american people in hopes of getting his health care reform bill passed

before the summer recess. some say he needs to change course before anything is done. president obama is putting on a full-court press trying to pass his health care reform plan. the opposition is fierce on both sides. >> i know there are those who openly declare their intention to block reform. >> republicans want to go back to the drawing board. >> either this bill fails or if it will change dramatically. >> a main concern, cost. the $1.50 trillion will only put us further into debt. >> cost-cutting is first on a list. >> what does $1.5 trillion get

you? it would prohibit denying coverage for pre-existing coverage. theyould focus on prevention and wellness. back live here. this morning, nancy pelosi will be addressing the health care reform bil we will be hearing om president obama tonight on abc 7. pamela brown, abc 7 news. >> thank you. vice president joe biden is in the ukraine as the u.s. tries to mend ties with moscow. >> we're working to reset our relationship with russia. i assure you and all of the people, but it will not come at the expense of ukraine. biden is visiting ukraine just

two weeks after president obama visited russia. there will be some big improvements on the road banks to the stimulus spending. arlington county lows share about two wondered $60 million in federal funding and will complete a new interchange at fair oaks. it is costing the district a lot of your money to keep the lights on at nearly two dozen vacant buildings. $13 million will be spent on rent, utilities, and other fixed costs tied to 20 buildings. one warehouse near nationals park is leased for more than $540,000 a month. many of these buildings are empty because of school

consolidations. 8 bilingual and diversity career fair will be held today in arlington. more than 12 employers are expected to be there. it will be held at the holiday inn in arlington. it will run from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. prince george's executive jack johnson will announce plans for a summer crime initiative. crime in prince george's county is down 14% from this time last year. the number of burglaries is up. tim kaine is valid to publish his travel records once a month. he has been accused of putting that job ahead of governing. records show he took 14 trips during the first six months of

this year and spent more than 7 $500 on state police security detail. he said that money will be reimbursed. a bethesda doctor is now a free man this morning. the jail time will be waived as long as dr. eric greenberg stays out of trouble. cocaine and a meth pipe were found at his house. >> his whole life right now is effectively destroyed. we're going to work to get it back. we have some legal things to go through. we are going to go through them and we intend for them to be successful. >> he was accused of over prescribing several substances. july is national hot dog

month. the annual capital hot dog lunch will be held today. there will be free hot dogs today. each year americans eat an average 60 hot dogs each. can you believe that? >> does that include those people from the hot dog-eating contest? it brings the average way up. >> 5:37. 69 degrees. still ahead on "good morning washington" -- hard to believe but the pilot of that crash actually walked away. amazing amateur video coming up. >> adam caskey live in arlington. it is dry here. we do have one little show to speak of. we will look at that in the forecast coming up. >> and lisa baden will be back with another look at your morning commute. "good morning washington

hello. i am director of the most progressive animal rehabilitation center in the country. come down to meet your new becks friend. >> been morning, washington. welcome back.

good morning, washington. 5:40 is your time. your traffic and weather together every 10 minutes. >> let's check in with adam caskey. he is in arlington. >> it feels great to be back out with the storm chaser truck. it's kind of nice to changeup the routine and get outside again and be in the weather. 68 degre right now. are trying here. there is one showerer north of fredricksburg right.ow n is northow ofouut o sthf bou sf ruby,th virgini that is it. heote rwiswe will expect sunshine to start our day. here is the forecast. partly sunny. high temperatures in the mid 80's this afternoon. you will feel humidity but nothing oppressive. tomorrow will be a lot like

today. we will have a slightly better chance to see more thunderstorms. some isolated storms hit or miss today. we have a better chance of sight -- of seeing something tomorrow. time for a look at the commute. >> i wanted to take you quickly to the camera of traffic moving to the wilson bridge out of maryland. no major delays at all. rwon the inner loop between 66 d 7, there is a complicated accident. two lanes get by. you will have to stay to the left. 66 just as the growing volume. back inside. >> thank you. 5:42, 69 degrees. as if you needed another distraction, get ready for live tv in your car. one companyays it is in your

tv in your car. one companyays it is in your nearar (female narrator) from jennifer: a microfiber sofa bed for just $299, only at jennifer. $299. jennifer: the only place to buy a sofa bed.

>> you are watching abc 7's "good morning washington," with doug mckelway, alison starling, meteorologist brian van de graaff, weather, and lisa baden, traffic. this is "good morning washington," on your side. checking our top stories this morning. dramatic video outbluffchile -- dramatic video out of chile. the pilot survived. he does have multiple injuries. hillary clinton says iran should think carefully about its nuclear ambitions. she said the u.s. is ready to help their allies in the gulf. she is in asia to highlight america's partnership witthat

region. the u.s. is turning up the heat on the honduran government. the european union has suspended more than $93 million in aid to honduras. there is a new way to keep your kids quiet on long road trips -- satellite tv for your car. a company in dallas has teamed up with at&t to launch a new mobile tv system. it has 22 satellite tv stations and 20 satellite radio stations. it is like having a living room in your back seat. >> it has a guide like direct tv or cable ahome. you could pick your different channels with this remote control.

>> it has a buffer system so if you lose the satellite connection, you will not boost the picture. >> just as long as they keep it in the back seat. we do not want that on the dash board. >> another distraction. 5:48 is your time. your traffic and weather together every 10 minutes. >> maybe, maybe not on the rain front. >> ec thunderstorms on the seven-day and think it is a what we. it will probably not get here complyte for a while. l iil wshowil y y the o leit otl cell down south. it is working its up toward rdstaffo county.af may cross the river and head into charles county and south of marbury.

let's look at the numbers. we ranged from 67 in waldorf to 70 in fredericksburg. 64 in martinsburg. over to the maps we go. we do have a pattern that has some store business off the coast and off to the west. we are wedged between these two systems. it will feel more muggy and also more warmth. may be near 90 by the end of the week. we will look for the potential for some storms to develop. maybe more scattered on thursday and friday. the latest trends. today lull on saturday. it will not be a big rain event. at reagan national airport, where several inches down.

we need it. partly cloudy tonight. a straight thunderstorm possible. tomorrow, more of the same. -- a stray thunderstorm possible. it will feel pretty muggy. i think saturday remains dry in should be a decent day for outdoor activities. there is a chance for rain every single day. >> there has been a crash on route 1 northbound before the fairfax county parkway. in upper marlboro, there is a vehicle smoking or steaming on the shoulder. for now, the lanes are open. that could change. there is a huge tract in virginia on the inner loop before route 7. only two lanes are getting by. the wilson bridge seems to be moving nicely.

now we go back inside. >> somebody out there is missing and emu. >> that is right. >> is it you? >> no. i know where mine is >> a couple found one wandering around. they called the humane society to come and get it. they said the emu is friendly. they have had no luck in finding the owner. they make dangerous pets. they can spread up to 30 miles an hour. >what is dangerous is the middle so. it is a huge, a sharp claw. -- >> what is dangerous is the middle toe. >> some soccer teams in finland

had a chance to play 1000 matches in the swamp soccer world championships. it is the national sport. the use swaps to train. -- they used swaps to train. >> it looks lke they are rolling around in manila wenure. >> i guess it is a yearly event in finland after the snow starts to melt. what a mystery man has been identified -- i should say a mystery manatee. it is a young male. he was found eating grass in maryland on saturday. he was easily recognized by distinctive scarring on his tail.

aquarium officials urge bay co worst not to get too close to be in danger a >> what th >> that iseree? e i live. e >>o h gtoising visit lisa >> they love heads of lettuce. right now we have an emu and a manatee. >> they're both in the wrong places. >> it is not chessy the sea monster? do you remember that? but i do remember that. you keep an eye out for him.

dozens of people lined out in california for an offer that seemed too good to be true. >> to good or may be too bad to be true. they were cheering for free marijuana. it is illegal to smoke marijuana under california law as long as it is under care of a doctor. people in line received free marijuana but not without coupons and a prescription. >> as long as it is legal, they will let it be. would you rather someone do this, marijuana, or get drunk

and drive your car. >> you look very healthy. >> chronic neck pain. >> some say it should be feet -- it should be legalized. i think people said it is the rgest cash crop in the united states. do not move to california just yet. there's more to come in our second hour. big accusations about the safety of your commute. natural response to a "the washington post" article. >> the president faces the immediate and the nation in prime time tonight. the deadline for health care reform looms. >> traffic andand

straight ahead, stuck in a hotel room thousands of miles from home. a student group under a swine flu quarantine. >> metro takes on "the washington post." i will have that story ahead. >> ugenho th nobodyh is at home, the district is using a lot of your money to keep the lights on in several empty buildings. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org--